Train strikes

[Lonette]

I haven't travelled anywhere for three years and the rail strikes are a lot to do with that.

I was fine with not travelling during the various lockdowns as I don't do it much anyway but now things are supposedly bad to normal and it's still far harder than it should be to travel by rail because of the strikes, I do find msyelf getting very angry and resentful at those responsible. They earn a lot more than most people but any time they feel the slightest bit disgruntled, they have a fit and hold the country to ransom. I theory I fully support people striking to maintain a safe workplace and fair pay but I think many have just got too greedy and demanding now.

 

[Beverley Macker]

1st and 3rd of Feb they're back on strike.

Why? The teachers strike is pulling focus big time.

 

[IngressUK]

I agree the railways need modernisation.

One such example.

Sat on a train with filthy tables, strewn with other people's litter?

Union rules prevent on-board people such as the Train Manager from donning a pair of rubber gloves, carrying a black plastic sack and spending a quick five minutes between stops, from clearing the mess.

Apparently it is doing someone else's job, which the unions don't like.

Everyone rigidly has to do their job as per their job description, multi tasking/skilling and initiative isn't allowed.

Sundays are voluntary - it is not a contractual working day. All staff are paid time and a quarter for Sunday working. Even shop workers are not entitled to voluntary Sunday working, nor be paid a premium for it.

 

[Merpedy]

I think the problem is that these rail strikes don't seem to be achieving anything. I'm not sure what the alternative actually is though

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

They've had no issues with offering pay rises in line with what the average workers in the country are getting apparently, but they've all been rejected. I keep hearing the terms of the pay rises are unreasonable without much meat to justify it. So it's hard to have an opinion either way on that.

The RMT were actually happy to negotiate a while back but RDG tried to slip Driver Only Operation in to the conditions after the fact which is what outraged a lot of their members. No-one is accepting a real terms pay cut in exchange for changes to their roster agreements, holidays and sick pay in addition to a clause that says you aren't needed anymore.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

RMT called 20th, 22nd and 29th July strike dates as ASLEF declare an overtime ban (action short of a strike).

It is heavily rumoured RDG are gojng to announce the closure of ticket offices in the next few days. Absolute madness as far as I'm concerned.

Ben Elton did a show on 4 the other night about the railway and it's problems which was good but only scraped the surface in my eyes.

 

[IngressUK]

Just because your family member is okay with being exploited by his employer, doesn’t mean that everyone else should be.
I don’t know why you’re literally advocating for peoples employment rights to be taken away.
Your family members employer sounds awful; disciplinary because he can’t get there? Why can’t they just find alternative shifts and get someone to cover his? Train strikes give plenty of notice to allow that to happen.
You’re being angry at the wrong people here. You should be angry at the employer that’s exploiting him in that way.

Why are the public being angry with the wrong people?

The TSSA and ASLEF have both settled and agreed with the latest offer made. It is only RMT who hasn't.

It is now at the stage where your losses from days off through strikes will not be made up with a pay increase.

Why is you think you are entitled to more than everyone else? Most people in the real world will not be getting anywhere near the rise even the TSSA and ASLEF have settled on. So why do the RMT think they are entitled to even more?

Carry on and well likely see 'Beeching II' on the railways. In which some routes and services will be cut. In addition, the passenger numbers are not what they once were - further strengthening any case for cuts. Redundancies will then be compulsory and the RMT won't be able to do a damn thing about it.

I'll also add that there are some truly rude people who work on the railways. If you don't like dealing with the public, then don't work in a job that puts you in contact with them.

I have been nothing but polite and friendly in my dealings with railway staff, however that is not always reciprocal.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

Avanti propose to close all thier ticket offices. Transpennine propose to close all except Huddersfield and Manchester Airport.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

RMT and Rail Delivery Group agree pay deal to be put to RMT members

Should mean no further RMT action in the mean time and if accepted would end that part of the strikes, not sure on ASLEF progress.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

The token machine for single line working at Whitehaven was built when Queen Victoria was alive.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

Goverment admits it would have been cheaper to negotiate a settlement months ago, also Transport Minister claims vaguely that modernisation plans would 'pay for themselves' yet the two pro modernisation experts they had at the committee wouldn't be drawn on any figures for that: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64317725

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

I’m still a planner, but working on the development of the future timetable possibilities for a huge railway infrastructure project… you can probably guess which
It’s far more interesting

Does it rhyme with IVU? Because that 'clever' system could scupper reverting stuff for next week's SX plan
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What do we think this means? Hope for the near future??

My reliable source thinks they have rejigged the offer to start as 5% rise backpaid to April 22 no strings because they think people will just vote for the cash like TSSA did.

 

[Grizzlybear]

Thank you. To be honest, I’m not overly worried about the pay rise, of course I would love it with the cost of living going up, but I have to admit that I am fortunately in one of the more highly paid jobs and I will get by. The pensions and job loses are definitely a worry.

Oh of course, I understand the priorities are very different for this action - was vaguely replying to the general rhetoric of “ooh don’t they get enough money nurses don’t get that much” which is extremely facepalmy! Nurses can, do and will strike if necessary. Just don’t understand the vitriol with which workers seeking a fairer deal is treated.

 

[CrackingOwlSanctuary]

Although that TSSA deal sold future colleagues down the river which is why I voted against it, not that it meant anything (also found the stats for my particular TOC on that vote very suspicious).

Revenue is another case of Schrodinger's trains: no-one travels apparently yet peak trains are still full and standing. There was an FOI about platform sales floating around facebook the other day which seems to have been deleted that showed there are still loads of tickets being sold and more often than not the booking office trumps ticket machines at locations where both are present.

The official line seems to be that the railway is on it's arse and has no money yet I have a few well placed sources that confirm not only is there a lot of money still sloshing around for the 'right' departments to eat free breakfasts etc but revenue at a certain large TOC had returned to 85% of pre covid figures 18 months ago. Not quite the penniless picture being painted by some. The same way no-one apparently uses the trains but a strike day costs the economy billions, and the media doesn't question the nonsensical nature of these briefs.

Conductors have the worst end of the current situation as most TOCs paid commision on ticket sales made by conductors, however in recent years there has been a huge push to eliminate this by pushing mobile tickets, more retail barriers and prominent signage suggesting boarding a train without a ticket is a criminal offence (when in reality you'd be lucky to see the BTP turn up for more severe offences let alone fare dodging - in fact when I was crew I witnessed two seperate incidents of the BTP actively assisting fare dodging for a quiet life!). All this means they have had a double whammy of no pay rise and now non existent comission.

I think the best chance of resolving the strikes now is a Labour government arriving (not that I trust them but resolving them would be an easy win). The wider ideological issue is that toe Tories despise the strength of ASLEF and the RMT and whilst I have my issuss with the attitudes of certain reps at local levels sometimes, I do think the long term Tory lust to defang the last effective blue collar unions in the UK is bad news for all workers if they succeed. It's lost in the ether of recent events now but I remember years ago a clip leaked from some Tory event where a big bollocks MP was giving it large about smashing the unions to teach them a lesson, they wouldn't be able to afford their mortgages and credit card bills if they had to keep striking etc well before these latest disputes were existing, or Covid existed. It has always been their long term ambition to go after the railway for the crime of existing in the form they themselves created.

 

[Nannycaff]

So you should be fine with SWR
Previously day isn't strike

Saturday SWR are running an basic STP timetable, as they're are a lot of engineering works on the network
Check after 1700 the day before as any known cancellations will be uploaded once the resource team declare them around 1600
I expect Wey-Sou to be the wost as it normally is.
As I said before, any disruption or short notice sickness could have short notice cancellations

I'm aiming for London to south coast on 9th after holiday too and am relatively confident

My family member will lose a whole nights pay plus his shift bonus as there aren’t any trains on Wednesday from where we live on the south coast, so with taking his shift bonus into account he will be over £250 down.

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

Does it rhyme with IVU? Because that 'clever' system could scupper reverting stuff for next week's SX plan
---

My reliable source thinks they have rejigged the offer to start as 5% rise backpaid to April 22 no strings because they think people will just vote for the cash like TSSA did.

Looks like it.

My understanding is 5% or 1750, with no agreement to accept any changes at this time.

Then stage two will be each TOC negotiationing with workforce /company council about their specific changes rather than an an national agreement.

Which makes a lot my sense as each TOC is different in the changes. For example the Grds grade at my TOC have already sold a lot of their T&Cs in previous pay deals (as are still in a current pay deal)

I think RMT have said a "pause" rather than a end or resolution
They'll still re ballot for strike action tho im sure .

 

[epl000]

Thanks @CrackingOwlSanctuary that was actually really helpful. I really wish that there had been better communications about the strikes, because I don't think the media coverage has been that helpful. One thing that isn't clear (or maybe I haven't read the right stuff) is are more strikes on the horizon?

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

Incident: IA April | National Rail

Industrial action to affect many National Rail services. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

April 4 - 8

There's an overtime ban in place too

0

There are train strikes announced for next week.

I'm now unable to travel and have been told it'll cost me £10 "admin fee". But it's not a choice - there are no trains going to where I want to go.

You should be able to get a refund when strike action is called. All TOCs will switch day or refund, if you've used a third party like Trainline they make it more awkward but they shouldn't be charging a fee to alter or refund

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

It'll be SWR or any others that run in the south (not London)

So you should be fine with SWR
Previously day isn't strike

Saturday SWR are running an basic STP timetable, as they're are a lot of engineering works on the network
Check after 1700 the day before as any known cancellations will be uploaded once the resource team declare them around 1600
I expect Wey-Sou to be the wost as it normally is.
As I said before, any disruption or short notice sickness could have short notice cancellations

I'm aiming for London to south coast on 9th after holiday too and am relatively confident

 

[Folkevermore]

RMT and Rail Delivery Group agree pay deal to be put to RMT members

Should mean no further RMT action in the mean time and if accepted would end that part of the strikes, not sure on ASLEF progress.

5% for 2022 and nothing agreed for 2023 apparently